Soap dispensing device for automatic dishwashers



united States Patent Eugene W. Davis 425 Kerr Road, Tipp City, Ohio45371 [2!] Appl. No. 781,068

[22} Filed Dec. 4, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [72] Inventor [54]SOAP DISPENSING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC DISHWASHERS 3 Claims, 2 DrawingFigs.

[52] 0.8. CI. 222/484 B67d 3/00 Field of Search 222/484,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 70l,086 5/1902 Puddefoot222/484 3,207,483 9/ I965 Ranson 220/8X 3,317,093 5/1967 Moran 222/484Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney-Dybvig & Dybvig ABSTRACT:A simple, inexpensive device for mixing and discharging cleansingpowders in water solutions isdisclosed, the device comprising a tray anda sleeve encircling the tray. The sleeve and the tray have appropriateopenings for water inlet and discharge. The areas of the water inlet anddischarge openings are simultaneously changed by movement of the sleeveon the tray.

PATENTEU DEC 8 I978 INVENTOR.

EUGENE W DAVIS is: J 5 Z H/S ATTORNEYS SOAP DISPENSING DEVICE FORAUTOMATIC DISHWASHERS This invention relates to a soap dispensing deviceand more particularly to a soap dispensing device for use in automaticdishwashers and the like.

Automatic dishwashers, such as used in restaurants and cafeterias,should have an automatic soap dispensing device for maintaining adequatequantities of soap in the cleansing solution throughout the dishwashingcycle. Very elaborate dispensing devices have been developed especiallyfor use in automatic dishwashers which are in continuous or nearlycontinuous operation. For smaller restaurants or cafeterias, which use adishwasher only two or three times a day, the more elaborate dispensingdevices are prohibitively expensive. As a result, some have no automaticsoap dispenser and occasionally the person in charge of-washing dishesneglects to add soap during the wash cycle. Some soap dispensing deviceshave been developed for use in less elaborate dishwashers but these haveeither been too expensive or inadequate for long periods of use. Forexample, they frequently become clogged without the knowledge of theperson in charge of dishwashing and inadequate quantities of soap arethen added to the cleansing solution.

In accordance with this invention, a soap dispensing device is providedwhich is simple and inexpensive yet rugged and which satisfactorilyoperates to insure that soap is added to a cleansing solution throughouta dishwashing cycle. The device, which comprises a soap tray with asliding valve member for its water inlet and discharge openings, caneasily be adjusted to vary the quantities of soap added to the cleansingsolution. The device is extremely simple in operation and, therefore,can be used by relatively unskilled people.

Referring to the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a soap dispensing device made inaccordance with this invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, a soap dispensing device inaccordance with this invention is generally designated and comprises atray or reservoir 12 of a rectangular construction having a rectangularbottom wall 14, parallel, rectangular front and rear end walls 16 and18, respectively, and parallel, rectangular side walls 20 and 22.Joining the side walls 20 and 22 and the rear end wall 18 is a partialcover plate 24, the leading edge of which is spaced from the front endwall 16 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The tray 12 is of a hollow,thin-walled construction and its various walls and the cover plate 24may be made from sheet metal or plastic. The uncovered or open topportion of the tray 12 between the leading edge of the partial cover 24and the front end wall 16 serves as an inlet opening, designated 26, forwater circulating in an automatic dishwasher, as indicated by the arrowsA in FIG. 1. Formed in the side wall 22 immediately adjacent the bottomwall 14 is an elongate rectangular slot or opening 28 defined by surfaceportions of the side wall 22 and the bottom wall 14 which serves as awater outlet or discharge slot for solutions of soap and water asindicated by the arrows B in FIG. 1.

Slidably mounted on the tray 12 is a thin-walled, hollow, rectangular,tubular valve member or sleeve 30 which has a top plate 32, bottom plate34 and side plates 36 and 38. An elongate rectangular slot or opening 40is formed in the sleeve side plate 38 and defined by surface portions ofthe side plate 38 and the bottom plate 34. The apertures 28 and 40 canbe alined and may be substantially identical in size and shape. Asapparent, when the tray 12 and sleeve 30 are assembled, the top plate 32of the sleeve 30 covers a portion of the inlet opening 26 thus limitingits size. Stop means are provided for preventing the inlet opening 26 tobe completely closed by the confronting the leading edge 44 from thetray front end wall 16 thus determines the minimum uncovered size of theinlet opening 26.

In operation a powdered soap or detergent is poured through the inletopening 26 into the front end of the tray 12. The assembled device 10 isthen placed on the scrap tray or other convenient surface in the washtank of an automatic dishwasher. During the wash cycles, the coveredrear portion of the tray 12 serves as a mixing chamber for the soap ordetergent and water, the mixed solution thereof flowing out of the wateroutlet slot 28. It will be observed that the area of the outlet slot 28is less than the size of the inlet opening 26 re gardless of theposition of the sleeve 30. Accordingly, the

discharge of the cleansing solution from the outlet slot 28 will occurat a slower rate than the flow of circulated water into the device 10through the inlet opening 26. Thorough mixing of the soap or detergentand water in the mixing chamber is thus assured.

The open area of both the inlet opening 26 and the outlet slot 28 areeasily and simultaneously changed by sliding the sleeve 30 along thetray 12. As the sleeve 30 is advanced toward the front end wall 16 fromthe position illustrated in FIG. 1, the uncovered area of both the inletopening 26 and the outlet slot 28 are reduced. Thus it is seen that thesleeve 30 serves as a valve member for changing the open area of boththe inlet and discharge openings simultaneously. The sleeve 30preferably fits snugly on the tray 12 so that it is frictionally heldinto adjusted position. If desired, ribs, knurlings or the like (notshown) canbe formed on adjoining surfaces of the tray '12 and sleeve 30to enhance the frictional force therebetween.

It is apparent that the greatest amount of soap or detergent will beadded to the cleansing solution at the beginning of the wash cycle and,when the device 10 is properly adjusted, an adequate level of soap ordetergent is maintained in the cleaning solution throughout the washcycle. By trial and error the operator of the dishwashing equipment candetermine how much soap or detergent should be loaded into the tray 12and the appropriate position of the sleeve 30 on the tray 12.

The inlet opening and outlet slot are desirably sufiiciently large thatthey will not become clogged during use. For example, the slot 28 may beon the order of one-half inch by 2% inches and the width of the tray onthe order of 6 inches. The device 10 can easily be kept clean simply bydisassembling the parts 12 and 30 and rinsing them with fresh water.

I claim:

1. A soap dispensing device for use in an automatic dishwashercomprising a tray having a water inlet opening in its top and a wateroutlet slot located along a sidewall portion thereof; said water inletopening being larger than said water outlet slot; a portion of said traydefining a mixing chamber; a

sleeve snugly received and slidable on said tray; said sleeve having aslot adapted to be alined with said water outlet slot and having surfaceportions adapted to cover portions of said water inlet opening; and saidsleeve being arranged for sliding movement on said tray to increase ordecrease the uncovered areas of both said water inlet opening and saidwater outlet slot simultaneously.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said tray has a generally rectangularconfiguration and said sleeve is of a generally rectangular, tubularconstruction.

3. The device of claim 1 further including a stop member on said traypositioned to limit the minimum size of said water inlet opening.

